Throat forming machine and method



June 6, 1933. G. sPATTA 'rHnoAT FRMING MACHINE AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet I l Filed Feb. l0, 1930 June 6, 1.933. G. sPAT'r.`

Tanon Pomme-"MACHINE AND METHOD heats-sheet ?v June 6, 1933.

G. sPAT'rA THROAT FORMING'MACHINE AND METHOD filed Feb. 10, v195o ,3 sheets-sheet' 3 QW WW. f N m Q NN b. Mm. m D mh m THHHMIIMMMMH 0 S .QQ .3% m. Nm mw ,uw QW nu Nw mw), QN. n Y Y WW.

Puentes rm e, 1933 UNITED: s'rArl-:s

PATENr ,OFFICE clonal annu, or wognum,- nrcmoan, assrcuoa 'ro cam :saumur oonrm, or woman, neurone, a concurren or momen '.l'nuoa'r roanne norman aunnrnon appunti nea renner; 1o. leso. sensi 10.427304.

' l ,This invention relates to s throat forming.

reduced to cylindrical sections of smaller` diameter, the mid-section is spread and shaped to form a flanged c linder disposed transversely of the cylindrical end section. These operations, described more fully 1n my above mentioned copending application, leave the metal at the so-called throat, or junction of the small diameter end c linder and the transversely disposed centra jcylinder in rough and unshapely form.

The operation of reducin the diameter of the end section of the blan is effective to forma taper at the throat section, leaving the portion of that section adjacent the transverse cylindrical portion of the same diameter as the original blank.

The central section or banjo is flanged and formed in the manner fully disclosed in my copending ap lication, Serial No. 426,545 v filed February ,1930.` This operation forms the banjo into a web and flanges, the web being shorter than the diameter of the original blank from which the housing `is made. As a result, the banjo forming operation leaves a bulge at-the junction of the banjo and end sections of the housing, and also leaves irregular surfaces at the junction of the web ofthe banjo and the lwalls of the cylindrical end sections. The throating operation removes this bulge by pressing the metal inward of the housing and also removes the irregularities between the web and end cylin- 4.0 ders by ressin the metal outward. The

preferre metho of carrying out this forminglperforms the two operations'simultaneous g Iny the present a plication, I disclose a ma- 5 chine for and metiiod of forming this throat section to produce smooth and graceful lines oining the cylindrical end sections of the ousing to the transversely disposed central section or banjo. f I The preferred form of machine employed been completed, the rod movement is reto carry out the objects of the instant inven-A tion comprises a horizontal c linder from which a strain rod is projectedy horizontally between the-side rails of the machine, and a die is disposed on theseside rails with its axis coinciding with the axis of the strain rod.

The die is stationary and has interior surfaces formed 'to the shape that itis desired to shape the exterior surfaces of the finished throats. The rod projects through the die, and is equipped with a suitable end for attaching a punch. to the rod.

The punch is a unitary block of wedgeshape generally, which has exterior surfaces conforming to the desired shape of the interior surfaces of the throats, andis provided with a flat back face, that is, a faceton the side away from the die, a ainst which a clamping device for holding t e punch on the rod exerts a pressure to force the punch and 'lo the blank into the die.

Inthe operation of this machine, the blank is threaded over the strain rod, the unch fitted insidefof the banjo of the blan and over the strain rod, the punch is clamped to the strain rod, and the rod then moved to move the blank and the punch intothe die to perform the throat forming operation.

In the preferred embodiment of the machine, the rod is moved by hydraulic means, although any other suitable arrangement for moving the rod may be employed within the teacliings of m invention.

When the t roat forming operation hasy a5 versed, and a collar and shoulder on the rod thus brought into operation, force-the blank and punch out of the die to permit them to be disassembled and removed from the machine.

The horizontal location of the strain rod and consequent horizontal positioning of the lblank durmg the throat forming operation facilitates forming the operation atI a maximum speed with a minimum of labor, since the attendant of the `machine cany lay the blank on thev flat horizohtal tablefportion .of the machine, and thread it over the strain rod while it. is still supported by the table of the machine. This eliminates the necessity of 1.00

lifting the blank, which wei lis approximately forty pounds, during t e threading operation, with the result that a single operator can quickly and conveniently insert the blank in the machine and operate it to perform the throat forming operation.

Now, to ac uaint those skilled 1n the art with the teac in of my invention, reference is made to t e accompan ing drawings inv which the preferred embo iment of it is shown by way of example and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a com letely assembled machine with a blank in p ace in Figure 2 1s an elevational side view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along the line 3-3 of Fi rel;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectiona view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figure 5-is an enlarged scale sectional elevation view through the die taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

vFigure 6 is a detailed end view of the punch and die taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; l d

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through the die with the blank and punch removed, showing the details of its construction and method of attaching it to the frame of the machine;l

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through the strain rod taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 5, showing the details of the blank removing collar on the rod; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the blank after it has been formed by the machine. v"

Referring to the drawings now, in more detail, the machine comprises a frame consisting of side rails 1 and 2 to one end of which is attached a cylinder head 3, by the bolts 9. The rails 1 and 2 may conveniently be cold rolled steel of suitable size and having a enerall rectangular cross-section, or if pre erred, c annels, I-beams or angles may be used. 1

The sidemembers and' cylinder head of the frame are supported on suitable cast iron le 4, 5 and 6, to bring the working surface o the machine at a height at which a workman may conveniently place the blanks in the machine with a minimum efort. The side rails 1 and 2 are provided with a shouldered portion 7 and a shouldered portion 8, which together, form a pocket or seat in which the die structure is placed. That portion of the rail members 1 and 2 which extends beyond the die may be narrower than the sections between the die and the cylinder head 3, since this portion merely acts as a table upon which the Ablanks 'are laced hwhen they are being inserted in the 1e. Y

Cylinder 10 is abutted against the outside surface of the cylinder head 3, and provided with a cylinder head 11, which is held against the opposite end cylinder 10 by external bolts 12 which are threaded into the cylinder head 3 and projected through the head 11. This arrangement puts the walls of the cylinder 10 under compression normally to thereby better `enable them to lwithstand the stresses imposed upon them when pressure is built up within the c, linder, and' while this arrangement is pregarable, an other form of cylinder may be substitute The cylinder is provided with a piston 13 which has a piston rod 14 projecting through the cylinder head 3 and packing gland 15 disposed therein, and terminating m a coupling member 16 to which it is adjustably connected by thethreaded portion 17, and locked by the collar 18 threaded ontol the threaded fportion 17 and abutting agains the end o the coupling 16.

The cylinder head 11 is provided with a port 19 through which pressure is admitted to move the piston to the right, Figure 3,

and the cylinder head 3 is provided with aport 20, through which pressure is admitted to the reverse side of the piston 11 to move it to the left, Figure 3 Any suitable means may be employed to generate this pressure, and therefore the pressure pumps have been omitted from the drawings to avoid an unnecessary complication of them.

The admission of Huid 'pressure through ports 19 and 20 is controlled by the valve21 which may be any preferred ty e of control valve that is operable when tlie rod 22 is moved in one direction to admit pressure through the port 19 and operable when the rod 22 is moved in the opposite direction to admit pressure through the port 20.

The rod 22 is connected by a suitable bellA crank 23 to a cross rod 24 which terminates in a lever 25-v on the front or operatin side of the machine, which lever is operate in one or the other direction to control the movel ment of the piston 13 in the cylinder.

The die structure comprises a pair of rectangular blocks 30 and 31 which are bolted together by bolts 32 and held on the frame of the machine in any suitable manner, such as these wedges serving to guide the' -work into the die during the operation of the machine. In the forming of the throat section of an axle housing, vthe maximum wear oh, the die occurs at its upper and lower surfaces which are forced over 'the bulges at the throat sections lof the blanks to press the metal in these bulges inward into r the desired shape. To minimize the wear upon the die as much as f possible, I have provided hardened die plates 40 and 41 which are fitted into suitable deressions 42 and 43 in the open face of the ie, and held therein by stud screws 44 and 45 respectively,which are threaded throughv the die block and into but not through the hardj f` ened die plates.

The frictional wear imposed `upon these plates by the movement of the blanks into and out of the die, causes them to wear somewhat, and when theirsurfacesbecome roughened and tend to tear the blanks, the blocks can be removed and resurfaced in any convenient manner, as by grinding, after whlch they are replacedin the machine' with shims interposed between the plates and die blocks and 31 to maintain the working surfaces of the plates and 41 at a proper dlstance from each other.

A strain rod is attached to the coupllng 16 on the end of the piston rod 14" by a threaded connection '51, and the rod pro jected through the central portion of the dle with its axis coinciding with the axis of the" die. A tubular sleeve 52 isfitted over the end of the strain rod 50 adjacent the coupling 16 and held thereon by a Bange 53 which is bolted to the coupler bv bolts 54 and to which the sleeve is bolted 'bybolts 57. The

outward end of this sleeve 52 -is provided with shouldered portions 55 and 56 whichl are spaced away from the rod 50 a slight distance for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. f f

The rod 50 is also provided with a shoulder I 58 which is located at a point on the rod 50 that is disposed within the die, and the end section of the rod projecting beyond Athis lshoulder is of slightly smaller diameter.

`The punch 60 is provided with a centrally 'located opening 61 which registers with the small diameter portion 62 of the rod 50, where it is'held in place on the rod by the'clamp 63 which fits into the slot 64 in the end section of the rod.

The clam 63 comprises two semicircular plates joine together by a U-spring65, the

`is laid on' the end rtions of the frame members 1 and 2 and its cylindrical end section 71 extended over the free end of the strain rod 50. The outsideadiameter of the larger portion of this rod 50 accurately fits the ins1de diameter of the end section 71 of the blank to thereby keep the blank straight during the throat forming operation performed by thevmachine. The unch 60 is then placed within the banjo section 72 of the blank and the small diameter portion 62 of the pull rod inserted throu h the o ning 61 in the punch. Clamp memge serted in place in the slot 64, and the die and punch structure is in readiness for an operation of the machine.

The control lever 25 is operated to cause pressure to be built up in the cylinder 10 to move the piston 13 to the left, as seen in Fig- 4 ure 3, this movement gilling the strain rod 50 'and punch 60 c arri thereby to the left. Th2-punch engages the inner surfaces of the bla and carries the blank into the die where the bulges 'are removedl and the wall sections of the blank altered to a shape conforming to the outside surface of the punch and inside surfaces of the die..

It -Will be noted that the blank is cold during this step in the process of forming the rear axle housings, and also noted that the amount of metal to be shifted in the forming of the throat is so small that it can be successfully formed while cold.

As will-be seen in Figure-5, the bulges 73 Y and74 at the junction of the cylindrical end sectlons and banjo portions of the housing will be flattened out when the flange is forced into the die. The metal in these bulges 73 r63 ist enin- When the piston 13 has completed its travel i and the punch 60, the blank 70 and rod 50 are fully positioned withinthe die, this being insnred by the adjustment of the coupling 16, the lever 25 is operated in the reverse direction and the piston 13 thereby operated to move the rod 50 in the opposite direction. y

This brings the shoulder 58 on the rod against the innermost surface of the punch, thereby permitting the rod -to push the punch out of engagement with the die and blank. As the rod 50 is moved through the die, the shouldered portions 55 and 56v of the collar 52 engage the end section 71 of the blank, and as Y the rod is moved,push that section out of the die in the obvious manner.

When the piston 13 has completed its travel, clamps 63 are removed from the groove 64 and the punch 60 removed from the end nov ortion 62 o f the rod 50, and'from the blank $0. If the o posite end of the blank has not as yet been ormed, the blank is turned end for end on the machine, the punch reinserted 5 and locked on the rod 50 and the operation repeated to form a throat at the oplposite end of the blank. After both ends of t e blank have been thus formed, it is lifted from the machine and another substituted for it and theV operation repeated.

. From the fore omg it willbeapparentthat the operation o the machine is extremely simple and since the' blanks are placed upon the fiat horizontal portion of the machine prior to being threaded over the strain rod 50, and since this portion of the machine is at a height at which the workman can conveniently manipulate the blanks, the thread-v ing of the machine is an extremely. simple 2 operation which can be carried on by one man without undue fatigue. The horizontal arrangement of the elements of the machine permits me to gain this advantage.-

l Since the strain rod 50 is under tension dur- 2" ing its work performing movement, and slnce the reactions set up in the cylinder by the pressure that causes this' movement and by the die in resisting the movement, are in the opposite direction to the frame members 1 and 2 are placed under compression between the die and the working cylinder and since metals are stronger under compression than under tension, the frame members may therer fore be made smaller'and lighter, and an ap- 3" vpreciable saving in floor space 4may thereby be realized.

AWhile I have chosen to show my invention by illustrating a preferred embodiment of it, Ihave done so by wa of example only as p10 there are many modi cations and adaptations which can be made by one' skilled in the art without departing from the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire .to have protected by Letters Patent is ,pointed out in the appended claims.

o What is claimed is throat inward to -orm a smooth junction between the flanged face of the midsection and the end section and pushing other wall sections of the throat outward to form a smooth junction between the outer surfaces of the transverse and end lsection cylinders.

A2. The method of forming the throat which joins the small diameter cylindrical'end sec` tion of an axle housing with the transversely dis osed flangedv cylindrical midsection, wlnch comprises, pushingwall sections of the throat inward toform a smooth junction between the flanged face of the midsection and the end section and simultaneously pushing other wall sections of the throat outward to forma smooth junction between the outer surfaces of the transverse and end sections cylinders.

3. The method of forming the throat section of a banjo type axle housin which comprises the fo lowing steps, vizi., t reading the end section of the housing over` a strain member and through a formin member, placing a pusher in the banjo of t e housing and on the strain member, locking the pusher on the strain member, pulling on the strain member to push the housing into the forming member to form it, pushing on the strain member to remove the housing from the formin member, and removing the pusher and ousing from the strain member.

4. In a machine for shaping the junction of a cylindrical end section with a transverse cylindrical midsection-of a blank, a die into which the blank is inserted and through which said end section projects, a rod projecting through said blank and die, a shoulder on the rod, a collar on the rod, a punch, means for holding the punch on the rod, means for moving the rod to bring the punch into registration with the blank and die to form the blank, and means for reversing the movement of the rod, to cause said shoulder to push the punch and said collar to push the blank out of the die.

5. In a machine for shaping the junction of a cylindrical end section with a transverse cylindrical midsection of a blank, aA die'into which the blank is inserted and through which said end section projects, a rod rojecting through said blank and die, an accurately fitting the inside surface of the cylindrical end section of the blank to keep.

that section straight while the blank is in the machine, a shoulder on therod, a collar on the rod, a punch, means for holding the punch on the rod,.means for moving the rod -to bring the punch into registration with the blank and die to form the blank, and means for reversing the movement of the rod, to cause said shoulder to push the punch and said collar to'push the blank out of the die.

6. In a machine for shaping the junction of a cylindrical end section with a transverse cylindrical midsection of a blank, a die into which the blank is inserted and through which said end section projects, a rod projecting through said blank and die, a shoulder on the rod, a collar on the rod, the end of which forms a second shoulder disposed adjacent the free end of the end section of said blank, a punch, means for holding the punch on the rod, means for moving the rod to bring the punch into registration withthe blank and die to form the blank, and means for reversing the movement of the rod, to

cause said shoulder to push the unch and said collar to push the blank out o` the die.

7. In a machine for shaping the junction of a cylindrical end section with a transverse cylindrical midsection'of a blank, a die into which the blank is inserted and through which said vend section pro'ects, hardened inserts in said die, a rod projecting through said blank and die, a shoulder on the rod, a collar on the rod, a punch, means for holding the punch' on the rod, means for moving the rod to bring the punch into re 'stration with the blank and to move the b ank over said hardened inserts and into registration with the die to form the blank, and means for reversing the movement of the rod, to cause said shoulder to push the punch and said collar to push the blank out of the die.

8. A forming machine comprising a stationary die, a pull rod projecting through the center of the die and extending therebeyond, a shoulder on the free end of the said rod, a punch positioned on said rod between said shoulder and die, means registering with said shoulder for preventing movement of said punch toward the free end of said rod, and means ,for moving the rod through the die to bring the punch into registration therewith.

9. A forming machine comprising a sta-l tionary die, a pull rod projecting through the center of the die, and'extending therebeyond, a shoulder on the free end of said rod, a punch positioned on said rod between said shoulder' and die, means registering with said shoulder for preventing movement of said punch towards the free end of said rod, said means permitting unlimited rotation of the punch on said rod to align it with said die, and hydraulic means for moving the rod through the die to bring the punch into registration therewith.

10. A forming machine comprising a stationary die, a pull rod projecting through the center'of the die, and extending therebeyond, a shoulder onthe free end of said-rod, a punch positioned on said rod between said shoulder and die, a clamp registering with said shoulder or preventing movement of said punch toward the free end of said rod, and means for moving the rod through the'die to bring the punch into registration therewith.

, 11. A forming machinecmprising a stal .tionary die, a pull rod projecting through lthe center of the die, and extending therebe- `yond, a shoulder on the free end of said rod,

a punch positioned on said rod between said shoulder and die., a clamp comprising `two crescents registering with said shoulder for preventing movement of said punch toward thefree end of said rod, and means for moving the rod through the die to bring the punch into registration therewith.

12. A forming machine comprising a stationarydie, a pull rod projecting through the center of the die, and extendin therebeyond, al shoulder on the free end o said rod, a punch positioned on said rod between said shoulder and die, a clamp comprisin two crescents registering with said shoul er, a spring for holding said crescents together on said rod for preventing movement' of said punch toward the free end of said rod, and means for moving the rod through the die to bring the punch into registration therewith.,

together yon said rod for preventing move- 'I ment of said punch toward the free end of said rod, and means for moving the rod through the die to bring the punch into registration therewith;

14. A f orming machine comprising a statlonary d1e, a pull rod projecting through the center of the die, and extending therebeyond, a shoulder on the free end of saidr d, a punch positionedl on said rod between said shoulder and die, aV clamp comprising two crescents registering'with `said shoulder, a spring for holding said crescents together on said rod for preventing movement of said punch toward the free end of said rod, and hydraulic means for moving the rod through the die to bring the punch into registration therewith.

15. A forming machine comprisin'ga stav tionary die, a pull rod projecting through the center of the die, a shoulder on said rod having a radial face toward the free end of the rod, a second shoulder on the rod having a radial face toward the die end of said rod, a punch on said rod between saidfshoulders, means for moving said rod through said die in both directions, and means including said shoulder for causing the movement of ghe rod to move the punch in and out of the 16. A forming machine comprising a stationary die, a pull rod projecting through the center of the die, a shoulder on said rod having a radial face toward the free end of the rod, which free end is of smaller diameter than the rest of the rod, said free end having an annular groove which j forms radial shoulders that oppose each other, a punch having an opening through which the smaller diameter portion of said rod is'fitted to position the punch on the rod between said first shoulder and 'said groove, a clamp registering with said groove to hold the punch i vwith the movement of the rod in that direction and the first shoulder moving the unch out of the die with the movement of t e rod in the op osite direction.

17. A t roating machine for forming axle housings of the banjo type comprising a die having forming surfaces shaped to the contour of the outer surface ofthe throat section of a `finished housing, a punch shaped as the interior shape of the throat section of the housing and having a hole disposed with its axis coinciding with axis of the die, a pull rod projectingizhrou h the die and through the punch, a clevis rod to the punch, and means for moving the pull rod to bring the punch into registration with the die.

` 18. In a throating machine, a frame, a cylinder mounted thereon with its axis horizontal, a die mounted on said frame so that the axis of thecylinder coincides with the axis of the die, a piston in the cylinder, a rod projectedI through the die and adjustably connected to the piston, a punch carried by the rod, and means on said frame for admitting pressure to said cylinder to cause it te move the piston and thereby move the punch into registration with the die.

19. In a throat forming machine, a pair of members of rectangular section terminating in a cylinder head Whose face is at right angles to the faces of members, shoulders 4 formed in said members parallel to said head face to reducel the ends of the members opposite the head to smaller-dimensions, a die mounted on the frame against said shoulder,

. a cylinder mounted on said cylinder head with its axis in alignment with the axis of said die, a rod projecting from said cylinder through the die, a punch carried by the rod, and means for moving the rod to carry the punch into said die, said rod, cylinder and die placing said frame members under compression meanwhile. n

Inwitness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th d of February, 1930.' EORGE ,SPA'ITA or locking the l 

